File:Dagger Quillion (FindID 1012774).jpg

English: A complete late Medieval copper-alloy dagger guard (quillion) dating to c.AD 1450-1550. The hilt has a sub rectangular central boss with three projecting quillons. The central quillon has convex edges so that it narrows and then expands towards the terminal, it is decorated on both sides, one face is decorated with incised cross hatching kept within a boarder which follows the outer edge, the base of the central quillion is decorated with incised vertical lines. The other face is decorated with a foliate design which is very worn and hard to interpret further.

The side quillons are cylindrical in section flare from a narrow waist with faceted sides into round, slightly domed terminals the decoration is mirrored and both are decorated small incised horizontal lines which terminate at a vertical band. Projecting from a second band is a salt cellar style decoration, four deep incised lines which curve around the body and meet on the ends, forming a cross. 
The bottom of the guard is decorated with diagonal incised lines, some running perpendicular to the others.
Length: 37.99 mm
Width: 63.77 mm
Thickness: 10.73 mm

Weight: 43.7 g

Published examples of quillon-daggers are illustrated in Ward Perkins J. B. 1940. "London Museum Medieval Catalogue". 39-42, plates VI-VII. Ward Perkins states that these artefacts are military daggers with the earliest examples surviving from the 13th century. This type of military dagger was common until the close of the fourteenth century when they were ousted in popularity by the rondel dagger. However, Ward Perkins notes that "they by no means went out of use at this time and representations of them occur at all periods"

Edwin Wood former FLO for Sussex comments that this type is relatively long lived and evolves over time although they appear to have been most common between c.AD 1450-1550', salt cellar quillons are a stylist match for salt cellar pommels of the 15th-16th century.'